Posting tray



March 1, 1949. A; G. LOTTER 2,463,117

POSTING TRAY Filed Dec. 1 19 44 s Sheets-Sheet 1 A. G- LOTTER POSTINGTRAY March 1, 1949.

3 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1944 A. G. LOTTER 2,463,117

POSTING TRAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 1, 1949.

Filed Dec. 16, 1944 Patented Mar. 1, 1949 POSTING TRAY Adolph G. Lotter,Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Stationers Loose Leaf Company, Milwaukee,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 16, 1944, SerialNo. 568,439

8 Claims.

This invention relates to posting trays of the type used in connectionwith bookkeeping machines to hold for ready accessibility a stack ofloose record sheets upon which various data is kept.

In posting trays of this type the record sheets are generally held in anupright or slightly rearwardly inclined position clamped between alongitudinally adjustable backrest adapted to be releasably secured inany of a number of longitudinal positions of adjustment and a frontpressure plate capable of being withdrawn from the front of the stack ofsheets to provide access thereto for the entrance of data and otherinformation thereon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a posting tray ofthis general type with a front pressure plate mounted in a novel mannerwithin the tray so as to improve the accessibility of the record sheetsupon withdrawal of the pressure plate to an inoperative position.

More particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a frontpressure plate for posting trays of the character described with a novelclamping and withdrawing action enabling the plate to be advanced from aforwardly tilted inactive position to a rearwardly tilted clampingposition cooperating with a backrest to clamp a body of sheetstherebetween in an upright rearwardly inclined position.

A further object of this invention is to connect the front pressureplate to a posting tray of the character described by a novel lockinghinge to enable the plate to be actuated to and from a locked clampingposition with respect to a bank of record sheets.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of theherein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with thebest mode so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a posting tray equipped with the novelfront pressure plate of this invention and shown with the same inperative clamping position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the pressureplate in its ret a te position and with one side of the tray swung openso as to provide maximum accessibility to the stack of record sheets;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of a portion of the interior of the traylooking toward the front end thereof;

Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal cross sectional views illustrating themanner in which the pressure plate is actuated to its operative clampingposition; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view ofthe interior of the trayshowing the latch mechanism by which the hinged side wall of the tray isreleasably held in an upright position closin one side of the tray.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in whichlike numerals indicate like parts, the numeral Ill designates generallythe tray of this invention which comprises front and back walls II and12 respectively, opposite side walls It and I4 and a bottom wall l5. Thetray is preferably provided with laterally spaced longitudinal raisedbottom sections IB providing a false bottom for the tray, the topsurfaces of which are fluted for the purpose of minimizing slippage ofrecord sheets normally held in a rearwardly inclined stack l1 between abackrest l8 and a front pressure plate I9.

The backrest I8 is preferably of the automatically locking type in thatit may be moved longitudinally forwardly toward the front of the tray atwill but in that it requires releasing from clamping position on a guiderod 20 for motion toward the back of the tray.

This type of backrest is well known in the art and hence furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary, it being sufiicient to notethat the backrest is guided for such longitudinal motion by means of achannel member 2| secured to the bottom of the tray with its backflatwise engaged therewith and having flanges 22 at its sides to holdthe false bottoms l6 separated. The upright flanges 22 have inwardlydirected rails 23 bent therefrom to overlie the back of the channel inspaced relation thereto and which cooperate therewith in the formationof tracks in which rollers 24 on the backrest are received.

The channel member 2| may extend the full length of the tray toterminate adjacent to the front wall II, and if desired, may act toguide the front pressure plate IQ for motion between its retracted andclamping positions.

In the present instance, however, a separate guidewayis provided forthis purpose similar to the guideway 2i and consists of a relativelyshort channel shaped member 25 mounted with its back fiatwise againstthe channel 2| and having upright flanges 26 at its side edges spacedinwardly from the flanges 22 of the outer channel member. The flanges 6are also provided with rails 21 bent inwardly therefrom to overlie theback of the channel and cooperate therewith in the formation of tracksfor the reception of rollers 28 carried by the front pressure plate 19at its bottom portion.

Inasmuch as the bottom edge of the front pressure plate terminates justabove the false bottoms it it is necessary to provide a central downwardextension 29 having bifurcations 30 disposed to either side of the guiderod 29' and provided with forwardly directed ears 3! upon which therollers 28 are pivotally mounted. The tracks for the rollers 28 thusprovide for sliding motion of the pressure plate longitudinally of thetray and pivotal motion about the axis of the rollers 23.

Longitudinally spaced stops 32 and 33 adjacent to the front wall II andthe rearward end ofthe channel 25 limit such sliding motion of thepressure plate within the guide upon engagement of the bifurcated endsof the extension 29 therewith.

The pressure plate I9 is also connected to the tray by means of a hinge35 having flaps 3t and 31 hingedly connected together as at 38 on a mainhinge axis and having their ends h'ingedly connected as at 39 and 3-5 tothe front wall of the tray and the back of the pressure platerespectively at substantially opposite points and substantially at theelevation of the top edge of the tray.

It is important to note that the hinge connections at the ends of theflaps are located-slight- 1yv below thehorizontai median plane of thepressure plate 19. This disposition of the hinges, in effect, rendersthe pressure plate 19 top heavy sothat'uponbeing withdrawn from itsoperative clamping position shown in Figure l the plate will remain inan overbalanced rearwardly inclined position until engagement of thebifurcations 30 with the stop 32 effects pivotal movement ofthe plateabout theaxis of the rollers 28 to a position at which the plateoverloalances in a forward vdirection to lean in a forwardlyinclinedposition. against the front wall H of the tray.

Due tothe combined action of the hinge 35, the tracks on the channel 25,and the top heavy condition of the plate the sarne will remain inthis-forwardly inclined position resting against the top edge 4! of thefront wall H of'the tray when moved to its retracted position as shownin Figure 2.

A handle- 42 carried by the hinge flap 3B and adapted'to be graspedbetween the thumb and second finger of the hand of an operator providesfor shifting the hinge flaps and hence ac- --tuating the plate; 19between its operative and retracted positions. This handle extendsacross the main hinge axis 38 to overlie the flap 3'! which engagestherewith in'the operative clamping'position of the plate l9 to limithinge motion of the flaps at a point such that the main hingeaxis 38 isdisposed slightly below the plane joining the hinge axes 39 and 4t.

. The hinge 35 thus acts as a toggle to releasably lock the plate |9 inposition against the front of the 4 stack of record sheets and clampedagainst the backrest 18.

In withdrawing the plate 19 to inoperative position by pulling on thehandle 42 to swing the main hinge axis 38 upwardly and outwardly overthe edge 4! of the tray toward a position at which the flaps 3B and 31are folded upon each other, the top edge of the pressure plate [9remains in engagement with the first sheet of the stack, as shown indotted lines in Figure 2, up until the time the bottom of the pressureplate in being pulled away from the stack of sheets abuts against thestop 32 to initiate pivotal motion of the late about its rollers 28. Thiprevents the firstsheetsof the stack from followin the withdrawn plate.

It frequently occurs that during posting a number of record sheets atthe front of the stack slump down to positions as indicated at 43 inFigure 4 due to frequent transfer of sheets from their rearwardlyinclined positions resting against the backrest [B to forwardlyinclined"'po sitions resting against the, retracted pressure plate.Unless manually restacked in their proper positions, these slumped downsheets 43 prevent proper closure of the pressure plate I!) andoftentimesare damaged by the clamping? operation.

In the present instance, however, thesesheets 43 are. automaticallyrestacked by, advancement of the plate to its operative clampingposition. As clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, the .plate 59 has a hookformed on its back which 00- cupies a positiondirectly adjacent to thehandle 42 in the retracted position ofthe plate.

- This hook is adapted to be engaged by the index finger of the operatoras shown during actuation of the plate to its. clampingiposition toprevent prematurepivotal movement/of the pressure plate it about theaxes of its rollers upon engagement of the bottom edge of the plate withthe. displaced record sheets 53.

Hence, these sheets 13 are forcedbackwardly and upwardly by. therearwardly: advancing plate until they are realigned withth'e uprightsheets of the stack. The hook 44 is released as soon as. the bottom edgeof the plate 59' abuts the solidlstack-of sheets, and'furtherapplication of pressure on the hinge 35 to bringits flaps to theiroutstretched locking position then efiects the necessary pivotal motionor the plate to bring the same to its rearwardly inclinedclamping-position against the face ofthe. stack of sheets.

The manner of actuating the Pressure plate described distinguishes frompast constructions wherein the plate is merelyprovided with pivotalmotion at a point adjacentto thebottom ofi'the stackof record sheetsat'the frontfacethereof. In the present case, .it.is.to be. noted thatthe entire pressure plate" is slidableobodily, between the stop 32- and.the front. of. thestackof sheets and that forwardna-nd rearwardpivotalmotion of the. pressure plate is effected upon engage mentor thelower portion of .the plate with-the stop 32 and the stack ofsheetsrespectively. Be-

cause of the bodily sliding motion of. thepressure hinge 15 to swing.outwardly. a shown-.insFigure 2, The hinge 45 isrdisposed along.thebOttom of the wall anda latch mechanismHA-G cooperating with asuitable keeper 41 on the tray holds the wall I 4 in an upright positionclosing the side of the tray.

A pair of stops, only one of which is shown as at 48, carried by theside wall l4 engage stationary portions of the tray to limit outwardswinging of the side wall so as to position a 1ongitudinal abutment 49in proper relationship with the stack of sheets so that their withdrawalfrom the stack 22 is limited thereby.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be readily apparent that the novel manner of mountingthe front pressure plate of the posting tray of this inventionfacilitates its operation and provides ample accessibility to the stackof record sheets; and that misaligned record sheets are automaticallyaligned vertically with respect to the stack by advance of the plate tothe clamping position.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a posting tray of the type having longitudinally spaced front andback walls joined by a bottom wall and having a rearwardly inclinedbackrest adjustable longitudinally between said front and back walls tosupport a stack of loose sheets in the tray in a rearwardly inclinedposition: a front pressure plate cooperating with the backrest to clampsaid stack of sheets therebetween in said rearwardly inclined position;cooperating means on said plate and the tray mounting the plate forsliding motion longitudinally of the tray in the front portion thereofand for pivotal motion about a transverse axis; a hinge having one ofits flaps hingedly connected to the front portion of the tray near theopen top thereof and having the other of its flaps hingedly connected tothe pressure plate at a point thereon substantially opposite saidconnection to the tray, said hinge being adapted to swing from aposition with its flaps outstretched to a position in which the flapsare substantially folded upon each other with the main hinge axis abovesaid hinge connections to shift the pressure plate from an operativeposition spaced a distance from the front wall of the tray clamping astack of sheets between it and the backrest to an inoperative withdrawnposition adjacent to the front wall of the tray providing access to thestack of sheets; and a stop on the tray engaged by a portion of theplate below the hinge connection thereto during withdrawal of the platefrom its clamping position to effect pivotal motion of the plate aboutits pivotal connection to the tray whereby the plate pivots from arearwardly inclined operative position to a forwardly inclined retractedposition spaced from the stack of sheets during actuation of the hingeto bring its flaps into substantially folded relationship.

2. In a posting tray having longitudinally spaced front and back wallsjoined by a bottom wall and having a rearwardly inclined backrestcarried by longitudinal guide means on said bottom wall and adapted tobe adjustably secured in any of a number of positions longitudinally ofthe tray: a front pressure plate movable from an operative rearwardlyinclined position cooperating with the backrest to clamp a stack ofloose sheets therebetween to a retracted forwardly tilted positionspaced forwardly of the stack of sheets to provide access thereto;cooperating means on the plate and the tray mounting the same forsliding movement between its operative and retracted positions and forpivotal motion of the plate about transverse axes adjacent to the bottomof the tray; and means by which the plate may be actuated to itsoperative and retracted positions comprising a hinge, the flaps of whichare separately hingedly connected to the plate and the tray atsubstantially opposite horizontal points thereon, said hinge beingadapted to swing from a position with its flaps outstretched and itsmain hinge axis spaced slightly below said hinge connections in theoperative clamping position of the plate to a position with its flapssubstantially folded upon each other and the main hinge axis spacedabove said hinge connections in the retracted position of the plate;

.; a stop on the tray engaged by a bottom portion of the plate duringsliding motion thereof to its retracted position to cause the plate toswing from its rearwardly inclined position to a forwardly inclinedposition; and means on the hinge for defining the outstretched positionof the flaps and for locating the main hinge axis slightly be neath theplane defined by said hing connections upon actuation of the hinge toplace the pressure plate in its operative clamping Position.

3. The posting device of claim 2 wherein said last named means providesa handle for actuat ing the hinge and consequently for controllin themovements of the pressure plate between its operative and retractedpositions.

4. The posting device defined by claim 2 wherein said hinge connectionslie beneath the horizontal median plane of the pressure plate so thatthe plate is rendered top heavy and remains in a rearwardly inclinedposition during retraction prior to engagement thereof with said stop,and so that the plate remains in a forwardly inclined retracted positionafter pivotal motion thereof upon engagement with said stop.

5. The posting device defined by claim 2 characterized by the provisionof handle means on the hinge for actuating the same and consequently forcontrolling the movements of the pressure plate between its operativeand retracted positions, and further characterized by the provision ofother handle means on the pressure plate disposed adjacent to the handlemeans on the hinge in the retracted position of the plate adapted to begrasped simultaneously therewith by an operator during actuation of thehinge to advance the plate to its operative position to precludepremature rearward tilting of the plate about its pivotal connectionwith the tray in the event of interference with sliding thereof towardthe stack of leaves to thereby insure proper positioning of slumped downsheets at the front of the stack during the clamping operation.

6. In a posting device having a bottom wall and upright side and endwalls defining an open topped tray,'one of said end walls forming thefront of the tray: means on the bottom wall of the tray forming alongitudinal guideway leading rearwardly from the front of the tray; afront pressure plate for said tray; means connecting the plate with theguideway for sliding motion longitudinally of the tray along saidguideway and for fiatwise pivotal motion of the plate toward and fromthe front of the tray; a hinge having its flaps separately connected tothe pressure plate and the front wall of the tray at pointssubstantially on a level with the top edge of the front wall of thetray, said hinge being adapted to be swung from a substantially foldedposition with the hinge connections adjacent to one another and the mainhinge axis spaced thereabove, to a; position at, which its flaps areoutstretched withz thetmain hinge axis disposed slightly beneath saidhinge connections tornove the plate between retracted and operative positions respectively; and a stop adjacent tothe forward end of said.guideway for limitingslid ingmotion of the plate therein during foldingof the hinge to retract the pressure plate to thereby cause thepressure. plate to pivot during final closing. of the hinge to aforwardly inclined position resting against the front wall of the, tray;and said pressure, plate being so balanced about its hinge connectionwith the hinge flap adjacent thereto that the plate advances rearwardlyaway fromsaid front Wall of the tray while in said forwardly inclinedposition upon actuation of the hinge to bring its flaps to saidoutstretched condition untilrengagement of the bottom leadingedgeportionof the plate with a stack of sheets supported in the tray ina rearwardly inclined position limits said advance and initiatesrearward-tilting of the pressure plate during final motion of the flapsto their outstretched position.

7 The posting device defined by claim 6 Wherein said pivotal and slidingconnection between the pressure plate and the guideway at the bottom ofthe: tray, comprises laterally spaced longitudinal tracks on the trayand rollers carried by the pressure plate and engaged in said tracks soas to permit sliding of the plate in the tray and. pivotal motion of theplate at any point between said stop and the stack of sheets.

8. In-a posting tray of the character described having a bottom wall anda front wall: a guideway on the bottom Wall of the tray leadingrearwardlyfrom the front: wall of the tray, said guideway includinglaterally spaced upright each other, spaced from andoverlying thQ-bOt-xtom of the tray to form longitudinal tracks; a

iron-t pressure plate having rollers. on its bottom portion; engaged insaid tracks constraining the plate; to sliding motion toward and from,said front wall and pivotal motionon axes parallel tothefront wallof thetray; stop means carried the tray for limiting sliding motion of thepressure plate in said guideway; and a: hinge having flaps hingedlyconnected to one; another and independently connected to the pressureplate and the tray at substantially horizontally opposite points withthe main hinge axis defined by the hinge connection between the flapsadapted to beswung arcuately between elevatedand depressed positionsspaced "above said hinge connections; and slightly" below the planepassing through the axes of said hinge connections respectively to carrythe pressure plate from an inoperative retracted forwardly tiltedposition to anoperative position-, defined by the front of a stack-ofsheetstto be clamped-entailing both slid.- ing of the platezin, saidguideway. and pivotal motion thereof on its rollers,

ADOLPH G; LO ITER,

REEERENCES CITED,

Thesfollowingreferences are-oi record inthe fi-le. oizthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,609;570., Newman Dec. 7, 19261,610,710 Schade on I l, 1926 1,695,251 Ol'mstrand Dec. 1 1 8 1 831376Gideon, Oct-411,, 1932

